WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 2062

Modifies provisions relating to higher education tuition

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Wick Thomas

Missouri HB 2062 would grant in-state tuition to graduates of Missouri high schools (with a path to citizenship for non-citizens) and restrict public benefits for unlawfully presen

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
#education #higher #highereducationandworkforcedevelopment #departmentof
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2062

Overview

Missouri House Bill 2062 (2026) seeks to modify provisions related to higher education tuition and public benefits, focusing on residency determinations for tuition purposes and the eligibility rules for public benefits for undocumented or unlawfully present individuals. The bill would repeal certain existing statutes and enact two new sections governing residency for tuition and restrictions on public benefits for unlawfully present individuals.

Main purpose and intent

  • Align Missouri higher education tuition eligibility with a broader residency rule: a student who graduated from a Missouri high school would be deemed a Missouri resident for tuition, unless the student can establish a residence outside Missouri.
  • Prohibit public colleges and universities that receive state funds from denying admission based solely on immigration status, if the student meets the residency criteria described above.
  • Repeal a statute that prohibits unlawfully present aliens from receiving postsecondary education public benefits and remove annual institution certification requirements related to public benefits for affected students.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Residency for tuition (new Section 174.820)

    • Any Missouri higher education institution receiving state funds must treat a student as a Missouri resident for tuition, fees, and admission if:
      • The student graduated from a Missouri high school (public, private, home school, or equivalent), and
      • For non-citizens/non-permanent residents, the student provides a written commitment to regularize citizenship or permanent residency status when eligible.
    • Institutions cannot deny admission solely based on immigration status if the student meets these criteria.
    • Information collected for admission under this section must remain confidential.

  2. Public benefits prohibition and related provisions (new Section 208.009; repeals related to 173.1110)

    • Section 208.009 establishes that no alien unlawfully present in the United States shall receive state or local public benefits, with certain exceptions and ongoing eligibility processes.
    • Public benefits definitions include grants, contracts, loans, welfare, health, housing, or food assistance, but exclude postsecondary education public benefits and certain other items (e.g., municipal permits, unemployment benefits).
    • Requires affirmative proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence at the time of application for public benefits for applicants aged 18+ (with specified documentary forms acceptable, modeled after documents used for driver’s licenses and federal proofs).
    • Allows temporary benefits if an applicant cannot immediately provide proof, including a sworn affidavit and an extension (90 days or until a birth certificate application is resolved, with conditions for extensions).
    • Mandates verification of lawful presence through federal processes (e.g., Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) and cooperation with federal authorities.
    • Nonprofit organizations are not required to enforce these provisions but may provide aid.
    • Agencies must assist applicants in obtaining documents needed to prove eligibility when signing the affidavit.
    • The section explicitly clarifies it does not apply to certain public benefits, and it requires verification before eligibility is granted.

  3. Repeal of existing restrictions on public benefits for unlawfully present students (repealed provisions)

    • Repeals sections that barred postsecondary education public benefits to unlawfully present students and required annual certification by institutions that they have not knowingly awarded such benefits to unlawfully present students.

Who would be affected

  • Missouri residents and prospective students:
    • Students who graduate from Missouri high schools (including home schooling equivalents) would be presumed Missouri residents for tuition purposes if they remain in-state.
    • Non-citizen or non-permanent resident students who commit to regularizing status would qualify for in-state tuition consideration, subject to meeting the new provisions.
  • Higher education institutions in Missouri:
    • Institutions receiving state funds would need to apply the new residency rules and ensure confidentiality of admission-related immigration information.
    • Institutions would need to align admission practices with the prohibition on denying admission based solely on immigration status if residency criteria are met.
  • Public benefits programs:
    • Affected public benefit programs would require verification of lawful presence and apply the new eligibility criteria, with a framework for temporary benefits and documentation requirements.
  • State and local agencies:
    • Agencies administering benefits must cooperate with federal verification processes and assist applicants with documentation.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • The bill would repeal existing statutes and replace them with new sections (174.820 and 208.009), effectively changing how residency is determined for tuition and how public benefits eligibility is handled.
  • The bill’s action history shows it was introduced in 2025 and referred to Emerging Issues (H) in May 2026, with prior readings in January 2026.
  • If enacted, institutions would need to implement new admission and residency verification procedures, alongside updated public benefits eligibility processes and cross-agency coordination with federal verification systems.

Summary

HB 2062 aims to:
- Expand in-state tuition eligibility to Missouri high school graduates by default, with a pathway for non-citizens to commit to regularizing status.
- Prohibit admission denial based on immigration status when residency criteria are satisfied.
- Repeal prohibitions on postsecondary education benefits for unlawfully present students and remove annual certification requirements for institutions.
- Strengthen public benefit eligibility rules for unlawfully present individuals, require documentary proof or sworn affidavits, and enforce federal verification systems, while preserving certain emergency and other non-education benefits.
- Increase coordination among state agencies and provide procedural safeguards and confidentiality for students’ information.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.